kevin lim . social cyborg . cyberculturalist . edupunk . futurist

Theremin playing cat points me to Japan’s nifty DIY zine…

As I awed at this ridiculously cute cat jamming a theremin (he even has an audience), I couldn’t help but notice that the little red theremin was the smallest I’ve ever seen. If you look at the related Youtube videos, there are even more Japanese cats playing with similar theremins.

Where the heck did the mini-theremin come from?
A bit of poking around and I found a lead via Theremin World (say it: “long tail”), where there was mention of what looked to be Japan’s own DIY zine, known as Otona no Kagaku. Every issue costs 2,300 Japanese yen, which is around US$23; a hefty price from MAKE’s mook at US$15.

So what do you get in each issue of Otona no Kagaku?
This is where it rocks. Every issue comes as a kit for you to assemble your own gadgets! Everything from Karakuri Mechanical Dolls, Wind-Powered Generators, Stereo Pinhole Cameras, Paper Film Projectors, Newton’s reflecting telescope, and of course, the little red theremin I want so dearly.